Thursday, October 29, 2009

Jane Wattenberg has created a feast for the eyes in her new picture book of Edward Lear's nonsense song The Duck and The Kangaroo. Wattenberg uses eye-popping photo-collage techniques to create a vibrant book, where the images truly match Lear's creative folly.

A duck looks out his window and longs for friendship and adventure. So he says to the passing Kangaroo, "My life is a bore in this nasty pond, / And I long to go out in the world beyond! / I wish I could hop like you! / said the Duck to the Kangaroo." A silly and sweet friendship develops, as the duck persuades the Kangaroo to give him a ride into the wide world beyond.

While Lear's verse is fun and silly, the illustrations are what make this book snap, crackle and pop. Wattenberg collages photographs of a real kangaroo and duck into a variety of almost surrealist settings. She adds layer of exotic flora and fauna drawn by 19th century Naturalists, including Lear himself, Charles Darwin, John James Audubon and many others. On top of this are wonderfully quirky touches, like hand-knitted socks shaped to the duck's webbed feet. My favorite aspect of the illustrations are the comically expressive eyes of the duck and the kangaroo. As I understand it, Wattenberg photo-collaged eyes of an owl and a dog to create these oversized, yet realistic eyes.

My children loved this unique approach to illustrating a picture book. My 5 year old kept asking me questions about who wrote the words and who made the pictures. This is the book that really made her think about the writing process and the artwork. "Mommy, can the person who wrote this change the words? Did they make the pictures, too?"

The artwork is wonderful. Take a look at HarperCollin's website to preview this book - they have a full preview available.

Poetry Friday today is being hosted today by Jennie at Biblio File. There are lots of great links there!

The review copy was sent by the publisher. Stop by your local bookstore to find a copy, or find it at your local library.

This books is available online at Amazon. If you make a purchase by clicking through to Amazon, Great Kid Books receives a small percentage, which will be used to buy more books to review.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

My kids are counting down the days until Halloween. All they can think about is their costumes, the fun they'll have, the treats they'll collect. If you'd like to share some interesting background on this favorite holiday, take a look at Celebrate Halloween and The Halloween Book of Facts and Fun, two great nonfiction books for kids.

For younger kids, I'd start with Celebrate Halloween, part of National Geographic's Holidays Around the World series.

What do you like doing around Halloween? Visiting pumpkin patches, carving jack-o'-lanterns, and telling scary stories? Dressing up in masks and costiumes, going to parties, and trick-or-treating for candy? We share many traditions with children throughout the world, but each culture has its own unique traditions. I liked learning the history behind this holiday and especially seeing how children in other places celebrate Halloween today. Children will definitely be drawn in by the vivid images - true to form, National Geographic excels in this area. The text is clear and reassuring, giving the message throughout that Halloween is a fun holiday for all to enjoy.

In this informative book, Old delves into the history behind many of the traditions and stories we associate with Halloween. Children learn about how the original Celtic festival Samhain developed as a transition between summer and winter seasons. This fall festival then mixed first with Roman traditions and then Christian holidays. My daughter especially liked the story about how jack-o'-lanterns got their names from an old Irish tale. I found Old's descriptions clear and interesting, especially how Halloween became popular in the United States in the 1850s, after many Irish immigrated to America.

Would you like to explore more nonfiction with your children? Check out Nonfiction Monday, a regular feature on the web. Today's event is hosted by Wrapped in Foil.

This books is available online at Amazon. If you make a purchase by clicking through to Amazon, Great Kid Books receives a small percentage, which will be used to buy more books to review. I've also included a good choice for the preschool set, Halloween Is... by Gail Gibbons.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Halloween is just about the perfect holiday for kids. Costumes, parades, and candy - what more can you want? One of my favorite books at this time of year is The Monster's Ring, by Bruce Coville. This suspenseful fantasy will grab reluctant readers, making them laugh out loud along the way.

Russell Crannaker is going to have a great Halloween this year. He's going to be Frankenstein, staggering around with his eyes rolled back in his head. But there's a problem: Eddie, the school bully, continually pokes Russell, punches him, calls him names. And now Eddie's after him again. So what does Russell do? Run, like any kid with the good sense to save himself. Russell finds himself alone, standing in front of a strange looking shop: Elives' Magic Supplies. The ancient old man behind the counter hands Russell a small box, across the top of which is written "The Monster's Ring". Inside, the note reads:

Twist it once, you’re horned and haired;Twist it twice and fangs are bared;Twist it thrice? No one has dared!

As Russell discovers, using magic is a tricky thing. This ring can indeed turn him into a monster - a real life monster with fur and horns and a deep, raspy voice. And as a monster, he can certainly get revenge on Eddie. But is revenge really that sweet? And can Russell really control the monster he's become?

Kids love this book for its fast pace, humor and suspense. It has great dialogue and builds suspense as Russell becomes a bigger and more grotesque monster each time he turns the ring. Power is addictive, as he finds out. I love this book for all those reasons, but also because it has so many layers to it. It brings up real issues kids think about: do bullies have real friends that will help them out? What would you do if you saw someone being bullied? How do you get your parents to listen to you, really stop and listen?

I first listened to this book as an audiobook from my library, and it was fantastic. The author, Bruce Coville, narrates as a full cast peforms the different roles. Booklist reviews the audio production, saying, "Coville's smooth connecting narration keeps hold of the brisk action as Russell's squeaky voice morphs into growling grunts, and his dilemma deepens. Listeners will laugh out loud at the zaniness." Want to listen to some clips? Try it out at the Full Cast Audio site and you'll see how fun it is!

This books is available online at Amazon. If you make a purchase by clicking through to Amazon, Great Kid Books receives a small percentage, which will be used to buy more books to review. Check out another book in the same series: Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Some novels are written from the heart: they sing with emotion and paint a picture on your soul. Journey of Dreams, by Marge Pellegrino, is just such a novel. Set in 1984, Pellegrino tells the story of Tomasa, a young Mayan girl, who must flee from her small village in the Guatemalan mountains during the Guatemalan army's "scorched earth" campaign.

Tomasa lives with her family high in the Guatemalan mountains, in a native Quiché Maya village. They are a close-knit family, working the fields, going to the village school, weaving clothes for the local market. But the army becomes a growing presence in their lives, intimidating local villagers. After her mother speaks out, complaining to other village women of people becoming sick after chemicals were sprayed by a plane on their fields, Tomasa's family receives threatening notes thrown at their home. First, Tomasa's mother and older brother flee for their safety, and then a few days later Tomasa's father leaves, taking Tomasa, her younger brother and sister. The story follows Tomasa's flight for survival, traveling north through Guatemala, Mexico and eventually to the United States.

Pellegrino crafts a compelling story with several fully drawn characters. Young readers will especially be drawn to Tomasa and Manuel. Tomasa and her younger brother Manuel each struggle with the psychological impact of their family's separation. Many times, Tomasa stifles her own emotions as she takes care of her siblings and acts far older than her 13 years. "As we walk I tuck my feelings into my heart. I hide them away just as Papa tucked our small treasures into the oilcloth and hid them in the earth for when we return." (page 85).

I especially like how Pellegrino shows the power of storytelling: Tomasa's father tells folktales and stories each night, as a way to bring the family together, teach the children lessons, and inspire hope or caution. The language of dreams and stories is woven throughout Tomasa's story.

"Tonight, I wake up from a dream of the jagged teeth - letters tearing at the wall of our ni'tzja, while I cough green. In the darkness, I wipe away the spit from the side of my mouth. I will check in the morning to be sure my fingers and mouth show no trace of green." (p. 39)

At times, I felt that the writing jarred between lyrical descriptions and short, choppy sentences. The contrast seemed to jolt my reading at times. But I wonder if this is how a 13 year old might think or write - sometimes with beautiful images, and other times with short, factual sentences. Tomasa's voice came across authentic and full of feeling.

The end of the story is uplifting, and I would certainly share this with middle school students. You do not see explicit violence, but you certainly feel the effects of the army's wrath. While 5th and 6th graders would be able to read this story, it might be harder for them to understand the context. Pellegrino includes a very helpful author's note at the end, explaining the Guatemalan Civil War and the Sanctuary Movement in the United States. She also includes a very helpful glossary with Spanish and Quiché words.

Journey of Dreams comes from Pellegrino's work with the Sanctuary Movement, working with refugees from around the world. She explains in the author's note,

"The threads of Tomasa's story were spun with the voices of many Central American refugees who came to the United States during the Sanctuary days. I saw Tomasa in the faces of children bent over papers at Owl and Panther meetings, writing poems and drawing dibujos. I tasted Tomasa's experience in the food we shared. I smiled and cried with children like Tomasa, teased them, and was teased in return. I listened to refugee children telling tales of their journeys.
I wove these families' stories into Journey of Dreams along with images that rose from pages of books, flickered on screens, and traveled on the voices of refugees and Sanctuary volunteers. These images haunted my dreams.
Tomasa's tale represents the stories of many families who were split up and forced to travel separately. Juana's part in Tomasa's tale represents those families who were never reunited." (p. 245)

Kirkus’ stared review called Journey of Dreams “outstanding.” School Library Journal used words like “well paced” and “suspenseful.” Booklist: “More than the local color, readers will be held by the escape adventure, and even more by the searing family drama.” Publishers Weekly: “At once lyrical and starkly realistic.”
Other reviews:ReadergirlzReadPlusTimes-Union, from Albany, NY

The review copy was sent by the publisher. Stop by your local bookstore to find a copy, or find it at your local library.

This books is available online at Amazon. If you make a purchase by clicking through to Amazon, Great Kid Books receives a small percentage, which will be used to buy more books to review. Below is the link to Journey of Dreams, and two other amazing books about the experience children have when they are forced to flee their homes: Grab Hands and Run, and The Other Side of Truth.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Most American school children know the story of Rosa Parks. But few know that before Rosa Parks started her protest, there was a brave young teen who challenged the segregation laws in Montgomery, Alabama. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice was just nominated for the National Book Award, and it's a book well worth seeking out.

On March 2, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, fifteen year old Claudette Colvin refused to give her seat to a white woman on a segregated bus. Claudette was an impassioned teenager who had just learned about her constitutional rights in her history class. Her friends knew how angry she was at segregation and how unfairly the police treated her, but Claudette quickly found herself avoided or teased by her classmates. Although Claudette received some help from local civil rights leaders, they decided that she was not suitable to be the public face of a mass protest. She was young, from a poor family, and had a temper at times.

As Claudette reeled from the lack of support from her friends and the community, she ran into personal trouble and ended up pregnant. She was sent to Birmingham to have her child, but returned to Montgomery to be part of the protests and live at home. Claudette was still willing to be part of the protests, and a year later she became a key plaintiff in the landmark case that struck down the segregation laws of Montgomery and swept away the legal underpinnings of the Jim Crow South.

This is an amazing story - I read it in one sitting, it was so engrossing. Young adults will be drawn into reading about how a teenager wasn't given the respect she deserved by the adults leading the NAACP movement. Claudette showed tremendous courage and determination speaking up against the injustices of segregation, and yet she wasn't even invited to participate in the ceremony to end the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

This is a great nonfiction book for middle school and high school students. Phillip Hoose brings the history alive. He presents clear, descriptive background information, fascinating primary sources from newspapers, pamphlets and flyers, and many first-person accounts from interviews with Claudette and others. Hoose clearly conveys all the risks of opposing segregation, along with the courage it took to face those risks. This is a compelling read for students who might think they know it all about this period of history.

I'm so glad to see this nominated for the National Book Award, in their Young People's Literature category. There are other great books nominated - see here for more information. The awards will be presented November 18th. For more great nonfiction books, check out the weekly Nonfiction Monday. Today it's hosted by Lori Calabrese.

I purchased this review copy as part of my mock-Newbery book club. Stop by your local bookstore to find a copy, or find it at your local library.

This books is available online at Amazon. If you make a purchase by clicking through to Amazon, Great Kid Books receives a small percentage, which will be used to buy more books to review. Below, I've included another fantastic book by Phillip Hoose, We Were There, Too, and the new nonfiction we're reading for our mock-Newbery: Marching For Freedom.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

I especially love sharing picture book biographies with young children. They are intrigued by the real stories, and the best of these books push students to think about bigger issues. Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson, is a wonderful, stirring picture book by Sharon Robinson and Kadir Nelson that shares the story of Jackie Robinson with a young audience. Would you like to win a free copy? See below for details.

Sharon Robinson, daughter of famed baseball player Jackie Robinson, wrote this book to teach kids about her father, but she focuses on a personal memory of her childhood to illustrate her father's strength and courage. With beautiful skill, Ms. Robinson draws us into her childhood memory of her father's achievements in baseball, but then she quickly focuses on moving to a lakeside home in Connecticut. Young readers learn about the Negro League through stories that her father told her friends. The children "all sat there wide-eyed, listening to his every word."

When her father retired from baseball after the 1956 season, Sharon remembers spending more time together as a family, playing in the lake by their home. But her dad always found an excuse not to get in the water. The climax of the book happens that winter, when the children beg to go ice skating. The children watch Jackie venture onto the ice, and Sharon suddenly realizes -- her father doesn't know how to swim! Will he be OK? But Sharron's horror changes to relief as Jackie bravely taps his way to the middle of the lake -- and declare it safe!

Not only does Ms. Robinson share a childhood memory, but she effectively builds a metaphor for breaking the color barrier. As she said in an interview on National Public Radio, "[This story] so perfectly defines Jackie Robinson the athlete, Jackie Robinson the husband, the father, the loving, the courageous, the caring," she says. "I wanted children to understand the totality of this man and how consistent he was in both his public persona and his personal one."

The artwork by Kadir Nelson is at once inspiring and intimate. Nelson's pictures draw children into both what it would feel like to be a child in Robinson's family, but also some of the iconic images of the Robinson as a baseball player. Nelson particularly wanted to portray Jackie Robinson from the perspective of the children looking up to him. "He's like a father of a generation," he told Sharon Robinson.

Does this book intrigue you? The publisher has offered 5 free copies. Contest ends Thursday, October 28th. All you need to do to enter is:

Get 2 extra entries: tell friends about Testing the Ice -- either email friends, post on Facebook or Twitter, and link to Great Kid Books!

Get 2 extra entries: become a follower or tell me you're already a follower!

The review copy came from the publisher. Stop by your local bookstore to find a copy, or find it at your local library.

This books is available online at Amazon. If you make a purchase by clicking through to Amazon, Great Kid Books receives a small percentage, which will be used to buy more books to review. If you have an older child (ages 9 & up) who's a baseball fan, you should also check out We Are the Ship: The Story of the Negro League, by Kadir Nelson. It won last year's Coretta Scott King author Award, and the Siebert Award for Informational Book. It's available in hardback for only $7.60, an amazing price for a spectacular book.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

I grew up loving the hilarious poems of Shel Silverstein, but I found understanding poetry in high school a challenging transition. Poems can pack so much in so few words, they can be difficult for children to wrestle with. I would encourage parents to share a sprinkling of poetry with their children as they grow older. Just keep reading a few poems every now and then; don't talk lots about them. A wonderful new collection of poetry, The Tree That Time Built, is a perfect collection for your home.

Poetry and science both ask us to think about the world around us, to pause and reflect on nature's patterns and rhythms, the plants and animals we see and learn about. More than that, poetry and science prompt us to ask questions, to explore and to wonder. This poetry collection helps children think more closely about our natural world, what we see today and the world that was here long before we were. This collection is organized into chapters about the sea, dinosaurs, trees, reptiles, insects, and more.

I was particularly impressed by the range of poems in this collection, and how they will appeal to children of a wide age range. Some poems are simple and direct, while others are complex in their vocabulary and images. A poem can stretch your mind to make you think about nature's design. The footnotes are a particularly helpful feature in this book, providing a great launch into conversations with children about science and poetry. Here is a lovely poem that makes me think about which came first, the flower or the bee?

Cross-Purposes
by Mary Ann Hoberman

The fickle bee believes it's he
Who profits from the flower;
But as he drinks, the flower thinks
She has him in her power.

Her nectar is the reason
That she blooms, the bee is sure;
But flower knows her nectar
Is there merely for allure.

And as he leaves, the bee believes
He'll sample someone new;
But flower knows that where he goes,
Her pollen's going, too.

(c) Mary Ann Hoberman

Mary Ann Hoberman is the current Children's Poet Laureate for the United States. She is the author of over 40 books of poetry and fiction for children. She writes, "As I see it, my mission is to spread the delight of children's poetry and poetry in general, to be a sort of Pied Piper for children's poetry. While continuing to write and recite my own poems, I will also be presenting the work of other wonderful children's poets in talks and readings and videos."

Another lovely thing about this book is that it includes a CD audiobook of many of the poems. Contemporary poets read their works aloud as well as works by famous poets from past times.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Kids love animals, especially learning about dangerous or exotic animals. As children launch into reading on their own, it's great to tap into interests that they have. Here are three books for children in 1st, 2nd or 3rd grade who are reading longer sentences, and learning to read for information. What I like about each of these books is that they provide interesting information in a format that is engaging and doesn't overwhelm new readers.

Dangerous Animals is part of Scholastic's True of False series that engages young readers with a fun question-and-answer format, and bright, vibrant photographs. This Easy Reader book plays on kids' fascination with exciting, dangerous animals. Kids will want to turn the page to find out the answer to questions like:

- Big animals are more dangerous than small ones. True or false?
- Tigers have the sharpest teeth of all big cats. True or false?
- The beautiful poison dart frog is not really poisonous. True or false?
- The Gila Monster kills with one quick bite. True or false?

I particularly like the format, with these high interest questions and eye-catching photos. This book is written using fairly simple sentences, but the vocabulary can be tricky. The entry on hippos starts simply: "Hippos have huge teeth." But by the end of the paragraph, the sentences become more complex: "Demonstrating their great strength, the beasts swing their heads like sledgehammers and bite each other." It's dramatic writing, but might be difficult for a 1st grader to read.

There is something about snakes that certainly makes my skin crawl, but so many kids are fascinated by them. Snakes! is part of National Geographic's series for Early Readers, and combines clear information with stunning photographs. This book has detailed information, supported by clear, concise explanations. I particularly liked how the author included definitions of new words right on the page. For example, I learned that scutes are the "wide scales on the belly of a snake." New words are set in eye-catching boxes on the pages that use them. In addition, the pictures are clearly labeled, often with arrows pointing out important points. Kids will clearly see the difference between a snakes' scales and skin.

But best of all, are the pictures. I just wish I could show you some of the inside photos. They grabbed my attention, and give me the slithery willies. But then, I'm not a snake lover. I know many little kids that will be all over this book.

I was drawn to Deep Ocean Animals because 2nd graders in our school study oceans. I like the way each page is focused on a different deep ocean animal. There are not many books that present this information in a way that new readers can access. The photographs are interesting, and the text is limited on each page. But this book was not as easy to read as I had hoped. New, difficult terms are only defined in the back, where few kids will look. The text varies between clear, straightforward sentences to very long, complex ones. Here are two sentences from the entry on blue whales.

The blue whale is the largest animal in the world and can weigh up to 200 tons! ... Blue whales are filter feeders. They have bristles, like a toothbrush, on the inside of their large mouths, which act as filters, sifting through mouthfuls of water to catch krill. (red words are defined in the back)

New readers will have difficulty reading all of these different clauses in one sentence. They need shorter, clearer sentences with pictures to illustrate the meaning. Even with these problems, I would recommend this book to 2nd or 3rd graders who are interested in learning about deep ocean animals.

Nonfiction Monday is a regular feature of the Kidlitosphere online community. It's a wealth of information. For more great nonfiction books for kids, check out this week's roundup hosted by Jean Little Library.

The review copy of these books came from one of my local bookstores, Diesel Books in Oakland. Stop by your local bookstores to check out their Easy Reader selection. You can also find them at your local public libraries through these links: Dangerous Animals, Snakes & Deep Ocean Creatures.

These books are available online at Amazon. If you make a purchase by clicking through to Amazon, Great Kid Books receives a small percentage, which will be used to buy more books to review.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

We've been enjoying two fun Halloween stories for new readers, one in the Mercy Watson series and the other in the Horrid Henry series. These are both stories that will get your kids laughing, which I think is a great motivator when kids are moving from reading a few sentences at a time, to reading short chapters.

Mercy Watson is a pig with a mind of her own; she is, as Mr. and Mrs. Watson often say, a porcine wonder. Mercy loves hot buttered toast, and will do practically anything to get this yummy treat. As Halloween approaches, Mrs. Watson decides that Mercy needs a costume, and a princess costume will be the perfect thing. Mercy is not so sure, but when she hears that treats are involved, she squeezes into her fluffy, pink princess costume. When she goes over to the Lincoln sisters' house, Mercy ends up spilling the candy everywhere and chasing their cat out the door. A mad-cap chase ensues, ending with the cat up a tree and the fire department coming.

This Mercy Watson book had my five-year old in giggles. It's the perfect book for hamming up (OK, bad pun) as you read it aloud. The illustrations are bright, colorful and silly - full of action and expression. There are about six sentence on each page - it's a good series as a read aloud for preschoolers listening to longer books, or as a book for first and second graders to read by themselves. The audiobook is available as a CD from Books on Tape or for download from Audible.com.

Horrid Henry is up to his tricks again, trying to boss his little brother around, terrify babysitters and plan sneak attacks on neighborhood girls. My daughters and I had great fun reading this book aloud. In the first chapter, Horrid Henry is excited to go out on Halloween. "Every year, Horrid Henry could not believe it: an entire day devoted to stuffing your face with candy and playing horrid tricks." He has the perfect scary costume, but then he realizes he's expected to take his little brother, Perfect Peter, with him and this year Perfect Peter has a cute polka-dot bunny costume. It's more than Horrid Henry can bear. We laughed so much as we watched Henry trick Peter into a scary haircut, then get punished.

Horrid Henry is a great series for kids who want action, laughs and quick stories. Each book has four short chapters, and is written at about a 2nd or 3rd grade level. Kids will like how they see some of themselves in the stories, but can laugh at how Horrid Henry takes everything one step too far. Adults will laugh and cringe at the stories, for Henry is truly a horrid little child. But he has a little of all of us in him.

Would you like a free copy of this Horrid Henry book? Check out these two giveaways:Lori Calbrase Writes, contest ends Sunday, October 11thSMS Book Reviews, contest ends Thursday, October 15th

The review copy of Mercy Watson came from my local library. The review copy of Horrid Henry came from the publisher. You can find these at your local bookstores - they have great Halloween books in now. You can also find Mercy Watson and Horrid Henry at your local public libararies.

Both of these books are available online at Amazon. If you make a purchase by clicking through to Amazon, Great Kid Books receives a small percentage, which will be used to buy more books to review. One book I'm buying with my Amazon credits is Ghosts, a new Magic Treehouse research book - looks like fun!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

As we get ready to celebrate Columbus Day and Indigenous People's Day, I've been thinking about all the different ways people have moved to the United States. An especially moving story is My Diary from Here to There, by Amada Irma Perez.

Amada Irma Perez bases this wonderful picture book on her own life, following her family's journey from Mexico to the United States. This story is told in diary entries, and so we see the family's journey completely from the child's perspective. As the story begins, the young girl worries about her family's move from Juarez, Mexico, to Los Angeles. Will they ever return to Juarez? Will she be able to learn English? Will her father have problems finding work? She's full of worries, but her brothers can only think of the great big stores that sell all kinds of toys. "Am I the only one who is scared of leaving our home, our beautiful country, and all the people we might never see again?" the young girl worries.

The story follows the family's anxious wait for their green cards, the long bus ride to San Ysidro, California and then to Los Angeles. Throughout the journey, the young girl's father reassures her that she is stronger than she realizes, her family supports her, and her diary allows her to express her thoughts and feelings. It makes a wonderful story to read aloud with younger children and older children alike.

Maya Christina Gonzales' vivid paintings sing with the warmth of family and the images of Mexico. As one reviewer, Gina MarySol Ruiz, wrote, Gonzalez "has this way of capturing the very essence of the beauty that is the Mexican women - grace, strength, determination, warmth and most of all the love for familia that shines out of their eyes. Each illustration has a mural like quality and with each look, you find more and more to amaze at."

I discovered this wonderful story at my local bookstore, Mrs. Dalloway's in Berkeley. You can also find it at your public library or on Amazon. If you make a purchase by clicking through to Amazon, Great Kid Books receives a small percentage, which will be used to buy more books to review.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

When children are in the beginning stages of learning to read, they need three things:
* a story that engages them,
* words that are not too difficult to read, and
* pictures that help kids put the meaning together.

Easy Readers are a type of book addressed specifically to children learning to read - typically in late kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd grade. One of my concerns is that so many Easy Readers use animals as the main characters or stereotypical white children, so they do not reflect our student body today. So, I am continuing my search for great Easy Readers with children of color as the main characters.

Luke is a little boy that reminds me of so many kids I know. He's standing by his dad on a walk, looking on at the pigeons, while his dad is lost in “boring Daddy talk.” Before you know it - Luke takes off chasing the pigeons! He's running wild through New York City, and his dad has no idea what's happened to him. Every parent's nightmare, right? But all Luke cares about are those pigeons! Yaaah! As you can see from this sample, Luke on the Loose is written in the style of a graphic novel or comic book. But it works so well as an Easy Reader because the words are never complex and the pictures support the meaning of the words.

I love Luke's endless energy as he follows the pigeons wherever they go - across the street, up the fire escape, and onto the roof of a tall building. This is a book worth searching out. I also think it would work for older children (2nd, 3rd or 4th graders) who are struggling with reading. They'll love the comic book style and the way that Luke looks like a real kid. One idea, when you read this with your child, talk about how you read comic books, how you follow the panels. Also, read all the extra words ("Screech! Honk!") with lots of energy and enthusiasm - and encourage your child to do the same.

The Pet Vet, by Marica Leonard, is another great Easy Reader. It uses pictures of real kids, and these photographs really engage young children. This Easy Reader is a phonics-based reader, which means that most of the words use the same word pattern, in this case "-et" like pet, vet, Bret. This makes it easier for children who are just sounding out words. But many phonics readers do not have engaging stories. This one does! Bret is a young boy who asks his friends if their pets are sick, and they bring him their stuffed animals to heal.

My daughter enjoyed The Pet Vet because she's played doctor with her stuffed animals many times. She could imagine herself taking part in this story. She is a very new reader (kindergarten), and so she liked the simple sentences surrounded by lots of white space. I loved the ending when we meet Brett's dad, a real vet. This is a very early Easy Reader, so is right for ages 4 - 6.

My next quest: Easy Readers with children from Hispanic or Asian backgrounds. If you have any to suggest, please let me know!

My review copies came from my local public library. Stop by your local bookstore and order yours. Or use this link from Amazon and support Great Kid Books buying more books to review and share with you. If you make a purchase by clicking through to Amazon, Great Kid Books receives a small percentage, which will be used to buy more books to review.

Monday, October 5, 2009

How do children become lifelong readers? How can we, as the adults in children's lives, help them become engaged with the world of books? Those are the questions that Educational consultant Diane Frankenstein asks. Are you looking for ideas of great books to read with your children? You have to see Diane Frankenstein's new book for parents: Reading Together: Everything You Need to Know to Raise a Child Who Loves to Read. This is a wonderful resource to help parents do just this: raise a child who loves to read. Would you like to win a free copy? See below for the contest rules.

Reading Together suggests over 100 different books that work with children - that are fun to read, interesting, engaging. But Frankenstein goes further. She provides questions, ideas, things to think about, to help parents engage their children with reading. This book helps take what we know as parents, find books that will work with our children, and then helps us talk with our children about these stories.

The heart of the book is Story Pages: 101 books to explore with your child. For each book, Diane gives a brief summary, lists the ideas and subjects the book explores, and then shares questions to get a conversation started and help you look closer at the story, bringing it from the plot to the personal. It's a wonderful format, easy to browse but also easy to dig into. It will stay on my shelves for years to come.

Would you like to win a free copy of this wonderful resource? Diane Frankenstein has graciously donated a signed copy of Reading Together to readers of Great Kid Books. All you need to do to enter is:

Friday, October 2, 2009

As parents, we want to help our children become successful readers, but the question is how can we best help our children? Diane Frankenstein has just published a wonderful resource to help parents do just this: raise a child who loves to read.

Countless research has shown that parents have a tremendous impact on helping their children learn to read successfully. But how do we help our children become "good" readers? Reading Together explains that it is through reading for pleasure that children will read more, enjoy reading and become better readers. The first step for parents is to help your child find books that they enjoy and can read successfully - a book that is at their reading level and one that engages them.

Reading Together suggests over 100 different books that work with children - that are fun to read, interesting, engaging. But Frankenstein goes further. She provides questions, ideas, things to think about, to help parents engage their children with reading.

Children need the adults in their lives to show them how to better understand and make a story their own. We best support them in this endeavor by having conversations that engage children in the stories they read.

Parents are wonderful resources to help children find the right books. You know your child's interests, what they're curious about, what makes them laugh. You know your child's emotional maturity, what issues and conflicts they can handle. This book helps take what we know as parents, find books that will work with our children, and then helps us talk with our children about these stories. This is Reading Together's winning equation:

Help children find an appropriate book
+ talk with them about the story
= children who connect with storeis and love the stories they read

The heart of the book is Story Pages: 101 books to explore with your child. I love the selection of books - they range from classics like Bridge to Terabethia to wonderful new books like Scaredy Squirrel or A Bad Case of Stripes. She explores books I love, and books I hadn't heard of and now want to go find. Here's an example of a Story Page from Reading Together, looking at the story Hunter's Best Friend at School. I don't know this book, but it looks like a great book for my kindergartner - I've already put it on hold at the library!

For each book, Diane gives a brief summary, lists the ideas and subjects the book explores, and then shares questions to get a conversation started and help you look closer at the story, bringing it from the plot to the personal. It's a wonderful format, easy to browse but also easy to dig into. It will stay on my shelves for years to come.

I bought my copy through Amazon, and it's available at local bookstores as well. I've known Diane for the past four years, as I've taken her workshops and classes on children's literature. This book is the fruition of years of teaching and helping children love reading.

If you make a purchase by clicking through to Amazon, Great Kid Books receives a small percentage, which will be used to buy more books to review.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

I often keep my eye out for awards to clue me into books or movies I want to see. You've probably heard of the Newbery Medal, the Caldecott Medal, and the Coretta Scott King Award. These awards recognize the best books in a year and are awarded by the American Library Association. But I'd also like to draw your attention to a special award The CYBILS, the Children's and Young Adults Blogger's Literary Award.

The Cybils reward children's and young adult authors/ illustrators whose books combine the highest literary merit and 'kid appeal.' They also foster a sense of community among bloggers who write about children's and YA literature. One thing I particularly like is how the Cybils covers a wider range of children's books than the other awards. This year, there is a new award for Short Chapter Books. These are so important for new readers, and they don't receive much attention.

Nominations for the Cybils are open today! Anyone can nominate any book published in English from October 16, 2008 to October 15, 2009. You may only nominate one book for each category. Nominations are open from October 1st to October 15. They've got a great form to use: Nomination Form 2009.

When all the nominations are collected, there are panelists in each category who read the books and narrow them down to a shortlist. On January 1st, the finalists are announced and a second group of judges will pick the winners, which are announced on Valentine's Day.

I'm very excited to be part of the judging panel for Easy Readers and Short Chapter Books this year. It's a an exciting opportunity for me. I'll be posting about many of the books nominated in this category in the upcoming months.

Have you ever finished a book and wanted to start reading it all over again, it was so intriguing? When I read Rebecca Stead's new novel, When You Reach Me, I was fascinated and gripped by the ending. I didn't see it coming, and I just wanted to start all over again. My daughter and I just finished reading this, and she loved its combination of a realistic friendship story with a fantasy twist.

Sixth-grader Miranda's world is turning upside down. Her best friend Sal doesn't want to talk to her, for some inexplicable reason. Now Miranda (Mira for short) must find a new best friend at school. And tiny, mysterious notes start turning up in private places, like the pocket of her winter coat that's been in the closet since last March. The notes say things like “I am coming to save your friend’s life and my own” and “You will want proof. 3 p.m. today: Colin’s knapsack.” Miranda doesn’t know who is writing these things or where they are coming from but it is absolutely clear that the person who wrote the notes knows things that no one could know.

The good news is, Mira’s mother gets a postcard telling her she will finally get her shot on The $20,000 Pyramid with Dick Clark on April 27, 1979 – “Just like you said.” This is the first clue: something larger is going on here. The person writing these notes knew ahead of time that Mira’s mother would get her chance with Dick Clark on that particular day. Who could this be? Why are they doing this?

I found the interview with Rebecca Stead on Amazon particularly interesting. Here's a short excerpt:

Amazon.com: At the very beginning of the novel, we learn that Miranda’s mom is going to be a contestant on the 1970’s TV game show The $20,000 Pyramid. Without giving away the ending, why is this opportunity so important for them as a family?

Rebecca Stead: They need the money! Part of what’s happening for Miranda during this year is that she gets pushed outside of her formerly tiny world. Not far, but enough for her to start thinking about class, and the way other people live. She starts to see the way she lives in a new way, and has to deal with that. It’s the beginning of that kind of awareness for her, and so the money they hope to win has a lot of meaning for her, but it’s a meaning that changes.

This would make a lovely book to read with a book club for 5th and 6th graders. When You Reach Me, captures the interior monologue and observations of kids who are starting to recognize and negotiate the complexities of friendship and family, class and identity. It's a book they'll be able to relate to, but that will fascinate them as well.

Audiobook lovers: this is a wonderful story to listen to. We actually listened to some of it, and then read some of it aloud. You can play a sample of it here:

Would you like to take a peak inside? Check out RandomHouse's website:

Other reviews abound:

Twenty by Jenny says: "This coming-of-age story, narrated by 12-year-old Mira, touts the rewards of independent thinking and the pleasures of rereading."

Kate Messner, teacher and author, says: the characters are "authentic, multi-faceted, funny, and real. Their story of friendship and first crushes and first jobs would have been enough to win me over. But then the letter comes." Kate just finished reading this to her 7th grade class and cried. So powerful.

Stop by your local bookstore to find it, or ask at your local public library. I bought my copy through Amazon. If you like friendship stories, also check out Al Capone Shines My Shoes. I just finished this and loved it.

If you make a purchase by clicking through to Amazon, Great Kid Books receives a small percentage, which will be used to buy more books to review.

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About Me

School librarian, book lover, mom. Member of AASL's Best Apps committee. Reviewer for Kirkus Reviews. Author Events Co-Chair for 2013 & 2015 AASL National Conference. Librarian at Emerson School, a public elementary K-5 school in Berkeley, CA.